Start or Sit (AFC): Brian Thomas Jr., Chargers WRs, RBs Ready to Break Out (09/18 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Summary

Fantasy Football Today (Sep 18, 2025)

Episode: Start or Sit (AFC) – Brian Thomas Jr., Chargers WRs, RBs Ready to Break Out
Hosts: Adam Aizer, Jamie Eisenberg, Heath Cummings

Overview

This episode is a comprehensive Start/Sit guide for AFC matchups in Fantasy Football Week 3. Hosts Adam, Jamie, and Heath break down every AFC home game, dissect major injury news, analyze key positional battles, and offer actionable fantasy advice for lineup decisions. They highlight emerging breakouts (like Jordan Mason), flag risky plays, debate player outlooks, and answer live audience questions to ensure listeners set their best lineups for the week ahead.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Players to Start & Sit: Immediate Headlines

• Jordan Mason is the universal Start of the Week

  • "I love low hanging fruit when it comes to just easy calls. And Jordan Mason should be an easy call. So he's the start of the week this week." – Jamie (02:17)
  • All analysts rank Mason in their top 10 RBs (Jamie 10th, Heath even higher)

• DeAndre Swift Bounce-Back Alert

  • Heath remains bullish: "This week it's going to be a lot better... Expect the Bears to score four touchdowns and at least one of them will go to DeAndre Swift." (03:10)
  • Jamie acknowledges risk of injury limiting touches, but consensus is Swift remains a strong starter.

• Players to Avoid ("Sits")

  • Jared Goff & Jameson Williams (Lions at Ravens): Outdoor game, tough defense. Both lower-end flex plays at best.
  • T.J. Hockenson (Vikings): Concerns about the offense under Carson Wentz. "I don't think they're gonna throw the ball at all here." – Heath (05:39)
  • Browns RBs: Elite Packers run D makes them highly risky.
  • Most Patriots pass-catchers: Offense remains too volatile.

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Week 3 Injury & Lineup News (Timestamp references throughout 07:00–16:00)

• Jalen Waddle (Miami): Questionable. Consider as WR3 only if desperate (Jamie 07:45).
• Zach Charbonnet (Seattle): DNP, check practice status by Thursday.
• Xavier Worthy (Chiefs): Practiced, but still listed as limited. Proceed with caution.
• Chargers WRs: Lad McConkey limited, impact on passing game noted.
• Multiple O-lines (Bucs, Titans) banged up: Impacting RB/WR startability.

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Game-by-Game Analysis & Key Fantasy Questions

[17:44] Green Bay at Cleveland

• Start: Josh Jacobs, Jordan Love (low-end QB1)
• Sit: Browns RBs; Packers WRs are floor plays only ("I hope I don't have to start a Browns running back." – Heath)
• Tight End Streamer: Tucker Kraft – “Must-start tight end, right?” – Adam (26:38)
• Browns WRs: Judy at WR33 (Heath), outside top 36 (Jamie).

[18:20] Detroit at Baltimore

• Outdoor downgrade for Goff/Jamo
• Start Amon-Ra, LaPorta. Goff a serviceable floor QB only if desperate.
• “I would rather start Daniel Jones, Jake Browning, Mac Jones over Goff this week.” – Jamie (34:37)
• RBs: Gibbs is a start, Montgomery a flex.

[19:46] Houston at Jacksonville

• Start: Brian Thomas Jr. (lowered expectations; consensus top-24 WR)
• ETN a Must-Start, but keep stashing Basil Tootin (potential riser, not yet a starter)
• Sit: Trevor Lawrence, Stroud, Brenton Strange.

[20:39] Indianapolis at Tennessee

• Big “prove-it” week for Tony Pollard, but Mason is preferred.
  • “One has had two weeks of being the featured guy...has not taken advantage... this scenario is better for Mason.” – Jamie (20:52)
• Daniel Jones (Colts): Jamie loves him (QB10), Heath skeptical due to history and matchup.
• Michael Pittman: WR3/flex.

[21:42] Jets at Bucs

• Bucs run D still “elite;” Breece Hall is a fringe RB1/2 (Heath higher, Jamie has him RB24; see detailed debate 61:16–62:12).
• Evans a WR2/3 due to Sauce shadow coverage (Jamie lower, WR24; Heath more bullish).
• Garrett Wilson, aBuka: Both solid WR2s.
• “Brian Thomas Jr. or Mike Evans? … Evans has a tough matchup. You can bench him for the right options.” – Jamie (59:06)

[22:08] Chiefs at Giants

• Keenan Allen, Wandale Robinson, Quentin Johnston all flexes
• For KC WRs: Worthy (if healthy) is an upside WR3, start over Ridley, Jamo.
• Pacheco: Mid-range flex, could score vs. bad Giants D (jammed up RB30–32 in consensus).

[23:45] Denver at Chargers

• Herbert is a locked-in start (Jamie QB7, Heath QB3)
• Sutton is back in lineups; Dobbins a flex RB.
• Quentin Johnston vs. Troy Franklin: Johnston preferred as the safer WR3 option.

[23:45, 79:06] Pittsburgh at New England

• Jalen Warren: RB2.
• DK Metcalf is a low-end WR2; sit Patriots WRs.
• Drake May (NE QB): Top-10 streamer vs. beat-up Steelers D.
• "This could easily be a 250, 280 and two for [Aaron Rodgers]." – Jamie (80:20)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jordan Mason’s Opportunity:
  “This should be the opportunity you were waiting for while you drafted him…big opportunity in front of Jordan Mason and he should take advantage of it in this matchup.” – Jamie (02:17)

• On Daniel Jones vs. Titans:
  “You got to take a little bit of a note of [Daniel Jones]…with the way that he’s playing in this offense, maybe it was just getting the opportunity to be coached at a higher level and he’s responding.” – Jamie (48:48)

• Heath’s skepticism on sudden breakouts:
  “…I’m a little slower at the beginning of the year with guys who have been terrible for seven years to react to their first two games…” – Heath (47:00)

• Bucs WRs and the Sauce Effect:
  "I would start Jacoby [Myers]. I'd start Zay Flowers over [Evans]. I'd start Deebo Samuel over him." – Jamie (58:45)
  "I'm not sure who you'd start over Mike Evans... Jacoby Myers? He's been better." – Heath (58:30)

• Advice on Basil Tootin:
  "I want him on my bench... It's not advice we start the guy yet, but try to get him thrown into a trade." – Heath (44:59)

• Rapid Fire Start/Sit Decisions:

  • "Dobbins or Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston?" – Adam
    "Allen, Dobbins, Johnston." – Jamie (76:18)
  • "DK Metcalf, bounce back?" – Adam
    "Low end number two." – Heath (82:02)

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Important Timestamps

| Segment | Detail | |---------|--------| | 02:17 | Jordan Mason: Start of the Week discussion | | 03:10 | DeAndre Swift bounce-back reasoning | | 07:45 | Jalen Waddle injury start/sit | | 17:44 | Green Bay at Cleveland DST/tight end streaming | | 19:46 | Houston at Jacksonville: Brian Thomas Jr., ETN, Tootin | | 20:39 | Colts/Titans RB rankings, Daniel Jones analysis | | 21:42 | Jets/Bucs WR debates: Evans, aBuka, Wilson | | 61:16 | In-depth: Breece Hall vs. Bucs D and shifting Jets offense | | 68:16 | Mahomes "air yards are up," Chiefs WR usage | | 75:06 | Denver at Chargers RB/WR flex discussion | | 79:06 | Pitt at NE: Drake May top-11 QB streamer | | 82:02 | DK Metcalf status check/end game round-ups |

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Audience Start/Sit Q&A Highlights

• Craft vs. Coleman (Flex): Craft (32:43)
• Pacheco vs. Sampson vs. Charbonnet: Pacheco unless Charbonnet clears injury (32:53)
• Evans vs. Row of WRs: Start Evans over Keon Coleman (65:28)
• May vs. Goff at QB: May (83:03)

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Podcast Tone & Style

Light banter, rapid-fire analysis, data-supported arguments, and the classic blend of strong opinions from each analyst. The tone is friendly, fast-moving, sometimes playful (regular ribbing about player takes, especially Daniel Jones), but always focused on arming fantasy managers with clarity and confidence.

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Summarized Start/Sit Recommendations

Must Starts:

• Jordan Mason, DeAndre Swift, Josh Jacobs (not for DFS), Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Travis Etienne, Keenan Allen, Justin Herbert, Jalen Warren.

Solid Starts:

• Brian Thomas Jr., Zay Flowers, Drake May (QB streamer), Garrett Wilson.

Risky Starts/Flex Plays:

• Tony Pollard (upside, but lower than Mason/Swift), David Montgomery, Browns WRs (Judy, Tillman), Ridley, Pittman, Keenan Allen, Chargers WRs (borderline WR2/3), DK Metcalf.

Sits/Bench If Possible:

• Browns, Patriots, and Packers RBs (outside of Jacobs), Jameson Williams (only WR4/5), Patriots WRs, Quentin Johnston unless desperate, all Browns RBs.

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Defensive Streamers:

• Strong: Packers DST, Seattle, Atlanta.
• Avoid: Ravens and non-elite options facing high-powered or efficient offenses.

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Final takeaway

If you only listen to one fantasy football show before Week 3 kickoffs, this episode of FFT covers every burning question and context you need, with clear, at-times passionate debate, actionable flex plays, and sleeper names to boost your win chances.

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Transcript

[Adam]

Hi, I'm Kristen Bell and if you know my husband Dax, then you also know he loves shopping for a car. Selling a car, not so much.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

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[Adam]

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[Jamie Eisenberg]

And they'll come pick it up and.

[Adam]

Pay us this afternoon. Bye bye Truckee. Of course, we kept the favorite.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Hello, other Truckee.

[Adam]

Sell your car with Carvana today. Terms and conditions apply.

[Heath Cummings]

This is fantasy football today from CBS Sports. What a play.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Can you believe this?

[Heath Cummings]

No, I can't. It's time to dominate your fantasy league. Off to the races and he stays at his feet. This is gonna go the distance. Now here's some combination of Adam, Dave, Jamie and Heath.

[Adam]

All right, folks, let's get ready to set our lineups for fantasy week. Three starts and sits for for the AFC home games Today we'll talk Green Bay at Cleveland, Detroit at Baltimore, Houston at Jacksonville, Indianapolis at Tennessee, the jets at Tampa Bay, the Chiefs at the Giants, Denver at the Chargers and the Steelers at New England. Yes, there are a couple of NFC home games in there to balance out the slates. Adam Azer here with Jamie Eisenberg and Heath Cummings. And fired up guys tonight we've got some. Who's going to win tonight?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

It's gonna be a close one.

[Heath Cummings]

Bill's starts a Bill.

[Adam]

Hopefully Jalen Waddle's questionable. We'll talk about that in a bit. Let's, let's.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I ruined. I should have said who. You ask a question again.

[Adam]

Who's gonna win tonight?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Jakori, Crosky, Merritt.

[Adam]

I'm not following. Wait, just let's sit there. Who's gonna win tonight? Jacori, Kraski, Merritt. He's not playing tonight. Who's gonna win?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

He has it. I know he has it.

[Adam]

No idea. Heath.

[Heath Cummings]

He always wins.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Bill.

[Adam]

Ah, Bill. Okay, that was good. Jamie. Let's see what any other zingers you got. Who do we love this week? It'd be a player we love.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I love low hanging fruit when it comes to just easy calls. And Jordan Mason should be an easy call. So he's the start of the week this week. Light set up for him obviously taking on the Bengals. No. Aaron Jones. He's going to get a lot of work. Last year he had six games with the 49ers with at least 14 carries and he averaged over 15 PPR points per game in those six games. So he's off to a good start running the ball well. Hasn't been off to a great start, fantasy wise, but this should be the opportunity you were waiting for while you drafted him. And the concern was last year, Aaron Jones played through these injuries. This year now out for the next four games. So big opportunity in front of Jordan Mason and he should take advantage of it in this matchup.

[Adam]

You think you like Jordan Mason? Heath has Jordan Mason fifth or something like that. Jamie has him 10th, so. And Dave, Dave's a little bit lower on him, so I know he wants to talk about that tomorrow and he will. But everyone's got him as a start. So start Jordan Mason. Heath, who do you love this week?

[Heath Cummings]

I don't love anybody as much as I love Jordan Mason. But I think there's some people who have been a little disappointed with what they got from DeAndre Swift so far. And I think that this week it's going to be a lot better. This game has an over under of 50 and a half. The bill, the Cow, Bills, Cowboys, Bears, whoever. The Bears are actually favored Swiss averaging 17 and a half touches per game. This is the worst defense he has faced yet. Expect the Bears to score four touchdowns and at least one of them will go to DeAndre Swift.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Do you worry at all? Two things because I'm with you. I think Swift has a good game. But do you worry at all about this injury and the fact now that maybe they give more work to other guys because the appeal of Swift, which I know is why you liked him, right? Nobody else. And you know, Manangai got some work at the end of last week and now Roshan Johnson's two weeks healthy. Do you have any worry that maybe somebody else gets some touches?

[Heath Cummings]

I think somebody else could get some touches in this game and DeAndre Swift could still be awesome. This is going to be the bonanza.

[Adam]

Yeah, should be.

[Heath Cummings]

I'm sure I said it.

[Adam]

Someone had to say it. No. We're obviously excited about this Dallas Cincinnati game. All right, players to avoid Jamie, give me a sit.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I don't like a lot of the Lions this week. I think that's fairly obvious as well. You know, taking on the Ravens outdoors, it's not a great spot for them. So Jared Goff started the week last week and this is going to be a bad week for Jared Goff. So I would try to avoid him. I'll just package him and Jameson Williams together. These are the two.

[Adam]

Jamie froze good.

[Heath Cummings]

It wasn't me.

[Adam]

Oh, yeah, me too. I was like, oh, did my computer. He and Jameson Williams. Okay, we'll come back to that in a little bit. Because there. There's one thing that I think. Let's knock Jamie out here.

[Heath Cummings]

I'm gonna knock you out.

[Adam]

There's one thing that. That is encouraging, I think. And outside when we get to one question for each game. But I understand the hesitation with the Detroit passing game outdoors against the Baltimore Ravens. Who are you avoiding? Heath?

[Heath Cummings]

T.J. hawkinson. I. There seems to be a lot more people who think this Vikings offense might be better with CARSON Wentz than J.J. mcCarthy. And maybe it will be. But Carson Wentz has been pretty terrible each of the last few years when he's been given an opportunity to start. I don't they. The biggest problem with J.J. mcCarthy. He's still averaging seven yards per attempt. I think the biggest problem with J.J. mcCarthy has been the fact that they aren't throwing the ball at all.

[Adam]

Yeah.

[Heath Cummings]

And I'm not sure they're gonna throw the ball at all here.

[Adam]

So Heath is coughing, Jamie is not. I just. Now I just have to fill time.

[Heath Cummings]

No, I'm here. I. I got a little. A little chest congestion in week three, so it's early. But I am on the injury report. But no. No question if I'm playing or not.

[Adam]

All right. So who. Who is who? Don't you like Hawkinson?

[Heath Cummings]

I said T.J. hawkins.

[Adam]

Okay. I was like, geez. Not Jefferson.

[Heath Cummings]

No, I talked about. Well, I.

[Adam]

No, Hawkinson. Hawkinson.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Okay. Yeah. Sorry.

[Adam]

I got.

[Heath Cummings]

I. Hawkinson did.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Out.

[Adam]

All right. T.J. hawkinson. Oh. Oh, boy. I just. I have him in a couple leagues and I have no choice. I have no choice. I think if Goddard plays, I'm probably going to start Goddard over him.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

But actually we give Hawkinson one more week this week. I think Carson Wentz is good for him. There was just. I forget what. What. Where it was. Just happened to hear it before the news happened this week, Darren Sprolls was complaining about how Carson Wentz would always throw to his tight ends instead of throwing him. And it was like he was like legitimately pissed about it.

[Adam]

It's funny because Carson Wentz has a pretty high running back target rate. I was looking for that in terms of Jordan Mason, but another game we'll talk about tomorrow for Monday night or for Thursday night. Injuries. Jalen Waddle is questionable. Come back to that in a moment. Jalen Wright is going to play if you have Devon Hn, if you want his handcuff. Are you Gordon or Wright?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would anticipate probably a split if something happens to hn. And based on this Dolphins offense, right now, it's probably not a situation you want to buy completely into. So most of my Ollie Gordon shares have been dropped at this point, mostly because, you know, I was waiting out hns preseason injury and thankfully he's fine. So I would, I would guess we'll, we'll have to see how this all shakes out if he does miss any anytime. But hopefully we don't have to deal with that at any point.

[Adam]

Okay, Darren Waller out and then for Buffalo, two defensive injuries, Matt Milano and Ed Oliver are out. So big deal there didn't matter last week when Ed Oliver was out. So Jalen Waddle question are we worried about him tonight? What should we be, you know, doing here?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I. I would guess you just consider him a number three receiver if you don't have to play him. Don't, you know, I mean, it's not going to be a great game for him. I would, I don't think so. You know, I don't think he's one of those players that at this point in the season is a must play. So if you have concerns about his shoulder, about the matchup, about the situation, like find somebody else.

[Heath Cummings]

I'd rather start Keenan Allen or Wandell Robinson.

[Adam]

Well, if he's out, if Waddle's out, are you gonna bump Tyreek Hill up?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Not really.

[Heath Cummings]

You're starting Tyreek, so.

[Adam]

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[Jamie Eisenberg]

PBR Cook, your four running backs correct.

[Adam]

Jamie by two by one and a half points. My four running backs.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Hey, if you got to know Azer questions.

[Adam]

Well, I didn't know the answer when I decided to make this a trivia question. So I. I knew you were gonna say that, but, man, am I owing to. All right, news and notes. Brock Purdy could play this week. Do you guys think he could start this week, or are they saying he might be the backup quarterback this week?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

So what I read yesterday was he was third in the position group. Based on the time he was out, the media was out there to watch. I'm guessing they're trying to just make sure he's ready and. Right. If he's 100 by Sunday, he probably starts. But I would go into it thinking he's not going to play. So if you have a decision, let's say TUA versus Brock Purdy, you should play tua or would you just drop? Really? If you have a. If you have a Josh Allen versus Purdy, you should play Josh Allen. But if you. If you're looking at it like, you know, Mac Jones versus two. I play two also.

[Adam]

Oh, you'd play two over Mac. I was gonna say, unless you have.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

49Ers quarterback and Tua, then I'm waiting it out.

[Adam]

Fair.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Okay.

[Adam]

Jaden Daniels is not going to practice until Friday at the earliest. So if your only options are two and Jaden Daniels, I think you probably need to start tua.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

But unless you again pick up Mariota.

[Adam]

Yeah, you could definitely do that. Zach Taylor didn't rule out Joe Burrow returning later this season. Still feel comfortable dropping him if you don't have an IR spot.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

So I play in one league where the commissioner thinks that our benches are deep enough that they don't want to carry IR spots. So I had to drop them every other league where I have them. I'm just dashing him. It'll be a tougher call if you run into more injuries that are going to, you know, be shorter term.

[Adam]

And Justin Fields is out this week at Tampa Bay. We'll discuss that one in a little bit. Tyrone Tracy Jr. Was limited with a calf injury. Jalen Wright, I mentioned, is going to play. Aaron Rodgers said he might have to throw to Jalen Warren more. He's very effusive in his praise of Jalen Warren. And Zach Charbonnet missed practice with a foot injury. Isn't Ken Walker the one supposed to get hurt? Zach Charbonnet, foot injury. He missed practice. Yeah, we don't. We don't go nuts over a guy's missing practice on Wednesday. We'll see if he's back on Thursday. Wide receiver news and lad McConkey missed practice with a biceps injury. Again, don't know the severity there. You'll see a practice report before the Thursday night game for the Chargers. Juwan Jennings missed practice. Christian Kirk was limited. Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals were both limited in practice. I did see that Heath has. Has Worthy projected. Are we. Are we ranked?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I have not updated yet. I'm going to as soon as the show's over. We are ranking Worthy. Yes.

[Adam]

Okay. But it's not a guarantee that he's playing.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

He practiced in full, though. So I was going on the Kansas City reporter.

[Heath Cummings]

I was going on Andy Reid saying he practiced without restriction. I assumed that meant in full.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I think he said that before. I think he spoke before practice and said he's going to practice without restriction. And then probably so they don't get in trouble. They listed him as limited.

[Adam]

Okay, but they did list them as limited, right?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah, they did. I think you're right. Okay.

[Adam]

Missed practice. And Josh Downs missed practice. Dallas Goddard was limited in practice. Evan Ingram missed practice with a back injury. Tyler Warren missed practice with a toe injury. Offensive line news. Andrew Thomas was limited. Maybe he gets back this week. Saints guard Trevor Penning. Maybe he gets back this week. The Bucks. Let's talk about the Bucks. Heath, are you worried about them? So Tristan, Worse. He was actually limited. He's working his way back. But Luke get a key. Their right tackle, he's out for weeks. And now right guard Cody Mock is out for the season. They've been using their center at left tackle. That'll change when Worfs is back. But you know, this is. This is rough for the Bucks. Offensive line concern going forward.

[Heath Cummings]

I'll be very worried if. Because a Booka did get banged up in that game on Monday night. If Abuka needs to miss time on a short week, then I'll be. I'll be much more worried about Baker this week. I. I think he's a. He's a starter.

[Adam]

All right. But I mean, are we thinking, oh, man, they're not gonna be able to run the ball or anything like that or just put their. Put faith in.

[Heath Cummings]

They ran the ball pretty well on Monday.

[Adam]

They did. I don't know how. If Cody. I don't know how many snaps Cody Mock played in that game, but he is again out for the year. Their right guard, Cleveland guard Joel Batonio missed practice. Tennessee. Tennessee has two starting offensive linemen, both on the right side of the line missing practice. So that could make the Colts DST even better. If Zeitler and Latham are out. Latham missed last week's game and Zeitler left it. And good news, Christian Darasov for the Vikings. He practiced in full. Doesn't mean he'll play this week, but it's probably, I guess, trending positively.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Do you see anything on Ryan Kelly?

[Adam]

Oh, no, I didn't. Concussion protocol for Ryan Kelly, so.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Right.

[Adam]

No, I didn't see that. But we can take a look. Vikings injury report. Ryan Kelly did not practice. Thank you for bringing that up. And Justin School, the backup left tackle, did not practice either. Both of them are the concussion protocol on defense. The Bears had five defensive players miss practice. Dallas, Chicago looks like it could be a great, great game for fantasy.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

By the way, the first two NFC players of the week.

[Adam]

First two NFC players of the week. I think one was J.J. mcCarthy and who is number two?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Jared Goff. What do they have in common?

[Adam]

They played the.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Well.

[Adam]

Oh, they play the Bears.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah. Hello. Dak Prescott.

[Adam]

Okay. A.J. cornerback, Atlanta quarterback. A cornerback, A.J. terrell is going to miss some games with a hamstring injury, it seems. And edge rusher James Pierce missed practice. Christian Gonzalez was limited in practice. He could be back. I don't know if they're going to use him to shadow now that they have a, you know, another cornerback that they like. But Christian Gonzalez could be bad news for DK Metcalf. We'll see. Khalil Mack for the Chargers, he's on IR with an elbow injury. Arizona is very beat up on defenses. They get ready for San Francisco. Seattle's got some injuries in the secondary. Three starters in the secondary missed practice. They have New Orleans this week. A Kilo Witherspoon, starting cornerback for the Rams. He missed practice and he's on IR And Braden Fisk, or defensive tackle, missed practice. So the Rams are a little beat up going to Philadelphia.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

If only they played a team that.

[Adam]

Threw the ball the steel. Yeah. The Steelers are super banged up right now and the Colts are getting a little healthier. So in summary, Bears, Cardinals, Seahawks, we'll see how that progresses throughout the week. And Steelers are the are very injured defenses. If you have starter sit questions, we're going to tell you about them. We're going to answer them for you on Sunday morning. Usually we're at 11:30am Eastern this week we're going two hours on Sunday morning, 11:00am Eastern. YouTube.com fantasy football today. So join us from 11 to 1:00pm Eastern to get your lineup set. YouTube.com Fantasy Football Today. We've got one question for each game when we come back.

[Heath Cummings]

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[Adam]

It's football season and you gotta keep up with the action. Listen in to Pushing the Pile part of CBS Sports Folks podcast network with Mike Renner, Kyle Long, and now me.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

JP Acosta for smart analysis of everything between the lines.

[Adam]

With four episodes a week, Sunday night recaps, film review, power tiers and weekly previews, you will know ball. Stick with us until one team lifts the Lombardi download and follow Pushing the Pile on Apple podcasts, Spotify and anywhere podcasts are found. All right, here we go. One question for each game. Green Bay is at Cleveland, two of the best run defenses in football so far. But my question, will you start any wide receivers in this game?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would prefer not to, but.

[Adam]

Again.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, I, I agree with Jamie. I prefer not to, but I. Judy. But Romeo Dobbs and Cedric Tillman are all low end number three high end flex types options and I would start them in that up in that order.

[Adam]

Okay. Judy's your favorite.

[Heath Cummings]

It is.

[Adam]

All right, so that was Green Bay at Cleveland, Detroit at Baltimore. Who's a better flex in this game, Jameson Williams or David Montgomery?

[Heath Cummings]

Ooh, that's a good question. They both probably need a touchdown to be any good this week. I, I would say, and I would prefer jmo, just barely.

[Adam]

Okay. I got a troubling trend about Jameson Williams. It's, it's his route depth. And I think we talked about this last week he had a pretty high route depth in week one and we said, yeah, he's had high route depths of four, but in week two I think it was even higher. And his weeks one and week two route depths have been higher than anything we saw in any individual game in 2024. So look, I mean, it's, it's all noise right now, right? It's just two games, but I don't love that usage. They know last year, one of the things that changed for Jameson Williams was he wasn't just a downfield guy, he wasn't just a big play guy. He was a, you know, more consistent guy who got, who did damage in other ways. Right now he's got one of the higher route depths and that's not usually good for fantasy. It works for Justin Jefferson. It doesn't work for most wide receivers that have super high route depths. Jamie, you're back here. Did you want to expand on the question was who's a better flex, Jamison Williams or David Montgomery? In Baltimore versus Detroit.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would go Jameson and ppr just with the hope that he gets more involved.

[Adam]

All right, you can expand on your thoughts on the Detroit passing game because every time you talk about it, you're. You're. You cut out. Houston, you can. We'll talk about the game in a bit. Houston at Jacksonville, start or sit Brian Thomas Jr.

[Heath Cummings]

Starting.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'm starting him too, but just lowered expectations.

[Adam]

Yeah, very much so. I think Jamie's got him around 20th or so. Heath has him seventh, which is his jersey number.

[Heath Cummings]

The targets are still there. I think it was a bad game. Everybody talked about it. Probably a bounce back this week.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

There's some things going on there that a little concerning, so just want to see how this game goes. Again, you're starting him, but there are some other options I would consider if you haven't.

[Adam]

You know, he's getting sting lead. He got sting lead in the second game he played last year against them and he had a very big game. But most of the production was not on Stingley. Indianapolis at Tennessee. Is it finally gonna be Tony Pollard week? The Colts are allowing. Well, they allowed 8 yards, almost 8 yards per carry to HN, 5.4 yards per carry to Dobbins. Heath, is it going to be Tony Pollard week?

[Heath Cummings]

You should start him. He's a top 20 running back.

[Adam]

Real quick. Why isn't he. Why do you guys like Jordan Mason so much better than Tony Pollard? I see their opportunities as pretty similar.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

One is playing Cincinnati and getting his first chance to be the featured guy. One has had two weeks of being the featured guy and has not taken advantage of it in tougher matchups. But I still think that this scenario is better for Mason than it is for Pollard, despite the fact that, you know, you know that power's still getting the work.

[Heath Cummings]

And one of them has an implied team total of I think 22 or 23. And one of them's around in the teens.

[Adam]

Okay. Tony Pollard has the fourth most carries in football and has run the ninth most routes among running backs. He's everything you want in a running back, but he only has two targets. Cam Ward is just not throwing to him. Jets are at the Bucks. How many of the wide receivers would you start over? Breece Hall?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Three.

[Heath Cummings]

I think I've got two right now.

[Adam]

This is a tough game. I mean, in terms of the start statistics, like the matchups, you know, probably for the third week in a row, Evans is going to get shadowed by a good cornerback. He's been pretty bad so far. The Bucks run defense is ridiculously good. I'm looking forward to breaking this one down. Kansas City's at the Giants. Wandale Robinson or Isaiah Pacheco? Who's a better flex?

[Heath Cummings]

One deal.

[Adam]

One deal in half. PPR.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Wando.

[Heath Cummings]

Okay, one deal.

[Adam]

Denver @ the Chargers. How do you approach the Chargers wide receivers? Let's assume a Conkey plays. Obviously, things change if he doesn't play. But he's third on the team in targets, right? Or is he tied for second? It's pretty close between the three of them, I think.

[Heath Cummings]

I think Keenan Allen has a 27 target share and lad McConkey has a 23 target share and so does Quentin Johnston.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I heard that before.

[Adam]

It's close.

[Heath Cummings]

Keenan Allen's a high end, number three, borderline number two and Quentin Johnston's a number three.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

For me, I would be the most worried about Quinn Johnson this week because you know where he lines up, you know, and the other two guys have a chance to move around a little bit more. And so boundary receivers do not do well against the Broncos. Johnston's history against the Broncos is not good. And so while he is playing great, this is the spot where he probably struggles. And so I would hope that this is the game where McConkey gets going because the middle of the field is something that the Chargers will take advantage of.

[Adam]

Yeah, I'm going to keep giving away all my stats of the game, but my stat of the game for Chargers Broncos is that the chargers, they are 19th in pass rate right now, but in the first three quarters they're ninth and they led 20 to 12 going into the fourth quarter in week one and 20 to 6 going in the fourth quarter going into the fourth quarter of week two. So so far they are pass heavy. Ninth and pass rate in the first three quarters of games. Pittsburgh at New England. Start or sit Jalen Warren?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would rather start Jalen Warren than Tony Pollard, personally.

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, I've got him back to back, but I'm starting them.

[Adam]

Okay. Jalen Warren or Keenan Allen?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Warren.

[Heath Cummings]

Full ppr. It might be close. I've got Warren.

[Adam]

Okay, so he's pretty much a must start guy. Green Bay is at Cleveland, so here's a Repeat stat of the game. In their last seven games of the regular season, the packers allowed 3.2 yards per carry to running backs. They, they've been even better than that so far against Detroit and Washington. They are a ridiculous run defense, their third best in yards per carry allowed. Who's number one? Cleveland. So two of the best run defenses so far. I know you're going to start Josh Jacobs. Josh Jacobs, by the way, he, his target per out run rate is 3.2%. Usually it's 18% right around there. So he's just, he, he has one of the lowest target per out run rates in the, in football for any running back that's like regularly used. That'll change. But, but anyway, I wouldn't start Jacobs and dfs. I don't know if you guys feel that way, but I know you're going to start him. Any, any interest in a Browns running back, Heath?

[Heath Cummings]

I hope I don't have to. I'm hopeful that Quinchon Judkins gets worked in a little bit more this week and then we can, we can really maybe hope to start him in future weeks. He is one spot behind Isaiah Pacheco in my running back rankings. So that if you're behind Isaiah Pacheco.

[Adam]

Jordan Love is top 12. He's 12th for Jamie, 11th for Dave, and 10th for Heath. After the start, he's gotten off to Jamie. Why isn't Jordan Love even higher?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Well, first off, he's gotten off to a great start. The way he's playing, you know, we haven't seen exactly the best fantasy production yet from him from an elite quarterback. And so this is an interesting game because if Jacobs does struggle to run the ball, will they air it out a little bit more and will they put the ball in his hands? Maybe, you know, use his legs a little bit more. So I think he's just a very safe low end starter, you know. So when you start to, you know, stack him up to maybe some of the higher end backups. We're playing the Mac Joneses, the Jake Brownings. You know, I would start Daniel Jones over Jordan Love this week just based on the, the two starts and the matchups for each of them. I, I, I just think he's in that, in that range of those guys. Like, I don't, I don't want to buy fully into Jordan Love as a fantasy quarterback just yet unless I need to.

[Adam]

Okay, start Jacobs. And we already said we don't really want to start a Packers wide receiver. Obviously, if you have any questions in the Chat we will get to those but it's just none of the receivers are quite consistent enough. But Tucker Kraft is a must start tight end, right?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yep, without doubt. I mean he's top five. I think the biggest question is like I, I, you know, a lot of my leagues run waivers on Wednesday and Dobbs and Wicks were available. I said this on Tuesday. I would take a shot on Wicks before Dobbs, but it's going to be interesting to see how these guys operate this week. You know, first full game without Jane Reed. You know, Wick stepped up last week when Reed went down. The way that I sort of view this is Dobbs is going to be the most consistent but doesn't have the higher ceiling. The highest ceiling is for Matthew golden, the wild card and all this is Wix. Like if Wicks, you go back to what he did two years ago, which is why everybody was so excited about him last year, is like he can do a lot of great things. He has a problem with drops. I think they have a problem trusting him fully, which is why they went on the draft of Matthew Golden. And so I think across the board the big, the best thing would be is if golden comes out, they feature him, he plays well and then you may have a must start guy rest away. But at this point, like the safest floor is Dobbs. The two upside plays are golden and Wicks, in that order for me.

[Adam]

Yeah, I really like the way they were using Wicks in motion. Just kind of picture it in your mind. He comes across the formation in motion, they snap the ball. He's basically got a running start and then he basically runs an out route. He creates easy separation and they just hit him for, you know, 8 to 10 yards. It happened a couple times, but they put him in motion a lot, which is.

[Heath Cummings]

And he caught it.

[Adam]

And he caught it and he actually showed some pretty good hands. He didn't have any drops last week, but that's what they were doing with Jaden Reed. Jaden Reed was a motion guy for them quite frequently. And then Wicks kind of stepped into that role last week and it just creates some easy opportunities. Crafter Kelsey this week. Not that most people have that decision, but Kelsey's got a good setup.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Craft, Craft.

[Adam]

All right, sit Joe Flacco. Right now, the packers are allowing the fewest yards per attempt in the NFL. Flaco's probably going to throw 45 times. But sit him. We already said sit the Browns running backs if you can because like you can't even, you can't Even look at Dylan Sampson right now and say, oh, he's doing all this stuff as a pass catcher. He had a garbage time receiving, touchdown. He ran nine routes. Jerome Ford ran 24 last week. Ford had most of the catches.

[Heath Cummings]

Nobody's thinking about starting any Browns running backs.

[Adam]

I mean, I hope not, but some people out there, you know, like Pacheco or a Browns running. Oh, well, Heath, you said over all the Browns. Jamie, how about you?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I think Pacheco's gonna have a good game this week. So I would start with checkup.

[Adam]

Someone's making Pacheco jokes at my expense. I. I accept it. All right, so what's. If Judy's your highest ranked Browns wide receiver, where Is he ranked?

[Heath Cummings]

33.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Outside the top 36.

[Adam]

Just hear me out, right? They're gonna lose, they're gonna be trailing. They're gonna throw 45 times. He's gonna get his seven to eight targets. He can't be that bad, can he?

[Heath Cummings]

I said 33.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Okay, what was, what was last week?

[Adam]

It was bad, but it. Well, what was last week? It was four catches. It was 9.1 fantasy points, four for 51 on eight targets.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I mean, he hasn't scored a touchdown yet. He's got plenty of target competition at this point. Yeah, the receivers, I mean, think about the receivers that they face. So far, Debo Samuel is the only one that has done well. So you could say McLaurin disconnect with the quarterback. The Holden situation, you want to blame it on that, fine. I think you got to factor in the defense as well. You go to week one, they shut down Amara St. Brown and Jameson Williams, like, this is not a defense you want to play with at this point, you know, So I, I just think when you look at Judy, when you look at, at Tillman, they're, they're in that mix of do I need a number three receiver at this point? Like Judy's been a bust and Toma's been a nice surprise. I, I really think it comes down to someone will probably score a touchdown. One of the two tight ends, one of the two receivers. Maybe it's a running back out of the backfield catching the ball. You know, Flacco will get his one. But this could just be. Absolutely. I'm surprised, honestly. I know they're on the road that the Bill spread is as big as it is. And this is not.

[Adam]

This is seven and a half.

[Heath Cummings]

I think the big difference is the Browns defense is so good.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

The Browns defense is very good. But the Browns offense could be non Existent.

[Adam]

Yeah. I mean, you saw the final score of the Ravens Browns game last week. They were really hanging in there for three quarters. They just need their offense to help them out a little bit. Okay, and then which. So we're gonna start fanning over into Joku, I assume, at this point.

[Heath Cummings]

Yep.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah.

[Adam]

All right. Where's fanning for you guys like him.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Right around 10.

[Heath Cummings]

I think he's 8 and Najoku might be 12. That's the one position so far this season that's been good against the Packers.

[Adam]

Yeah, very good. You're right. And I guess Heath, you're gonna like both of those guys better than Hawkinson. Jamie, how about you?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I do like them both better than Hawkinson. I. I just think again, Hawkinson is more of a. If you have him and there's nobody else better on waivers, like, you can still take a shot on him. So, like, better than Jatavion Sanders, for example, or Hunter Henry or Breton. Strange. You know, the guys that let us down last week. Juwan Johnson should be ahead of Parkinson. But I think in the case of Fan and look, you're hoping that there's a little more opportunities. If you look at the two tight ends that have faced Green Bay so far this season, Laporta was great. Ertz was great. You know, so one of the two of them will hopefully play well, if not both.

[Heath Cummings]

Also, Bannon's still available in 48 of leagues.

[Adam]

That's wild.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I made a trade offer where I lost Kittle. 10 team leagues lost Kittle picked up both Juwan Johnson and Fannin. So I offered Fanon. I'm sorry. I offered Juan Johnson and Tyrone Tracy for Jalen Warren and Ramandre Stevenson.

[Adam]

Okay.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

To the. To the manager who has Mark Andrews and nobody else.

[Adam]

Start the Packers DST and let's go. Oh, wait. I can answer some questions real quick. Sorry. Dobbs. Judy or DJ Moore?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

More?

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, I think. Yeah, I have more. One spot out of Judy Craft or.

[Adam]

Keon Coleman as a flex.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah, Craft Crafter.

[Adam]

Juwan Johnson.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Craft Craft.

[Adam]

Dylan Sampson, Pacheco or Charbonnet?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would go Pacheco.

[Heath Cummings]

If Charbonnet is okay, it will be him.

[Adam]

If not, it's Pacheco, Fanon or Troy Franklin?

[Heath Cummings]

Bannon.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'll go Franklin.

[Adam]

All right, next game, Detroit is at Baltimore. Stat of the game. Number one, Jared Goff has faced the Ravens three times in his career and has never thrown a touchdown pass against the Ravens. What's encouraging, though, I kind of alluded to this. The Ravens have seen 94 pass attempts in two weeks. Buffalo and Cleveland, both quarterbacks throwing over 40 passes. I think. Well, they're averaging 47 pass attempts per game. So that, you know, that's my question. Right. Is I know the expectations for the, for the Lions passing game. You're starting Saint Brown, you're starting Laporta. Most likely Goff and Jamo. Jamie, you talked about them earlier as guys you want to get away from. But are they going to throw 40 times? You know, it keeps happening against Baltimore. Your thoughts?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

How many times did golf throw in week one?

[Adam]

I mean, I know he was bad in week one. He threw. He threw 39 times at Green Bay and scored 12.9 fantasy points. But if he throws 40 times, I, I think he's probably going to be good.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Heath loves that when it's the one more number right against it. Yeah, no, but 40, he's gonna be great.

[Heath Cummings]

He's not a must sit. Like I. We don't have him top 12. I think he's 13th for me. I don't expect a good week and it could be a terrible week. But I also understand like 20 of the league might be missing their starting quarterback this week. And so if you need to start them, it's fine.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would rather start Daniel Jones, I would rather start Jake Browning and I would rather start Mac Jones.

[Heath Cummings]

I might be the Jared golf guy.

[Adam]

You're only three spots higher on golf than Jamie is. Jamie's 16.

[Heath Cummings]

He just named the three guys that are in between.

[Adam]

Maybe 16th for Jamie, 14th for Dave, 13th for Heath. So far, Josh Allen scored 43 fantasy points with two rushing touchdowns. And Joe Flacco had a bad game against Baltimore start.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

He'll be somewhere in between. I mean he's not Josh Allen, clearly. Yeah. And he's better than Joe Flacco. It's just this is, this is not the spot where he has done well. You know, even last year.

[Adam]

Yes.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

When he is at his best, it is indoors. It is when he gets protection. And this is the scenario where he is not been good.

[Adam]

But there were only three outdoor games that he played last year.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Okay. Two years ago. Excuse me.

[Adam]

No, Right. But. But you're. But if you go on last year like last year he was bad at Green Bay and then he scored 31 points at Chicago and at San Francisco on 32 and 34 pass attempts. He threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns in both games. And those were late.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Two of the worst defenses in the league at the time.

[Adam]

Yeah, I just think. Right. Okay. I guess the case is if If Jared Goff is the guy from last year, which he probably is, and he was on fire last year, then it didn't matter where he was playing. I understand. I think everyone's on the same page. He's not a must start. He's not necessarily a must sit. I mean, the lowest we have him ranked is 16th. Every team's playing this week, so. All right, Detroit running backs, you're going to start Gibbs.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Montgomery down. Jane Daniels, Joe Burrow. We're down Justin Fields. Like there's a lot of crappy quarterbacks.

[Adam]

Yeah, Montgomery or Jerry Judy.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

So the one thing that's interesting with Montgomery is you go back to week one and they were trailing and he had four catches and so they seem to involve him in the passing game when they're down. It's not just all Jameer Gibbs, although Gibbs might have been tired after catching 10 passes in that game. I would probably go Judy and PPR and Montgomery and non and flip a coin in half.

[Heath Cummings]

I'll go Judy and PPR or half and Montgomery and none.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would agree with that.

[Adam]

And. And by the way, James Cook had five catches against Baltimore in Week 1. That's a lot for him. Jerome Ford had five catches last week. Judkins had three. Sampson had three. That is something that the Ravens do. They give up a lot of receptions and yards to receiving yards to running backs. Jameson Williams is a sit basically a number four receiver for Jamie and Heath. Dave is a little higher on him. More like a number three receiver. Start LaPorta Jackson start Henry start. Flowers must start guy. He's top 13. Mark Andrews is what heath.

[Heath Cummings]

He's not top 13. Not even at tight end. I think I'd be more likely to drop him than start him.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

And just keep an eye. We'll find out today. Likely may practice.

[Adam]

So let's do some JMO questions. Obviously you're going to start Jordan Mason over him. How about. I hope you didn't answer this already. Tony Pollard versus Jameson Williams.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Pollard.

[Heath Cummings]

Pollard.

[Adam]

Giants running back or Jameson Williams.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

If Tracy is out, scatter Boo easily if Tracy is in still jamo.

[Heath Cummings]

Yep.

[Adam]

Okay, see if I got any questions here from the chat for this game. It was a trade question. Jameson and Dobbins for Bucky Irving. Is that a fair trade?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Not for the Bucky manager would much.

[Adam]

Rather get Bucky Irving there. How about Jameson for Breeze Hall? Is that a fair trade?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'd rather have Bruce Hall.

[Adam]

Okay, it seems like we're a little.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

This is a big game for Briesel.

[Adam]

A big like he's going to have a big game or it's approved.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Like this is like a prove a game for Bries Hall.

[Adam]

Well, it's a tough matchup for him.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah.

[Adam]

All right, let's take a break and oh, would you start the Ravens dst?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yes. Yeah, no, actually, I wouldn't. There's so many good options out there. Like Seattle's better, Atlanta's better. I wouldn't necessarily be making a ad drop, per se if you don't have a lot of great options, but this was a good week of waiver wire dsts.

[Adam]

Jennings or Jamo? From the chat.

[Heath Cummings]

Jennings.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Jennings. Okay.

[Adam]

All right. Now we're gonna take a break and when we come back, we'll talk about the Jaguars and the Texans and I'll tell you what's wrong with Houston's offense. We'll be right back. If you love the NFL and NFL draft, you'll love with the first pick a part of CBS Sports Podcast network, CBS Sports draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Titans GM Ran Carthon come to you twice a week to give the front office perspective on the biggest NFL storylines of the day. We also follow the NFL draft closer than anyone with weekly updates on our favorite college players, names to know based on your favorite NFL team's needs, and all the mock drafts and big boards you could want. If you love football, you're exactly where you're supposed to be. Download with the first pick and follow on Apple podcasts, Spotify and anywhere podcasts are found. Carolina basketball isn't just a program, it's a legacy. I'm John Henson and we'll be the host of Tar Heel247, a UNC basketball podcast for fans who bleed Carolina blue. Each week I'll be joined by players, coaches and insiders for real unfiltered conversations about the team, the tradition, maybe some funny stories and everything in between. No filters, no fluff, just hoop talk. The Tar Heel Ways. Subscribe now to Tar Heel247@ UNC basketball.

[Heath Cummings]

Podcast or wherever you get your podcast at.

[Adam]

We will have a good time. Get ready to go. All right, welcome back. We've got six games left. Houston at Jacksonville. What's wrong with Houston's offense? They are last in one category offensively. Can you guess what it is?

[Heath Cummings]

Motion pre snap pass blocking?

[Adam]

I'm not sure. Maybe they are, but I can tell you it's third down rate. It's definitely one thing. They're. They're worse than I was actually surprised. They have the eighth lowest three and out rate. So that's good. They're not going three and out a lot but they stink on third down. They also have the sixth most plays of 20 or more yards. So they've run the third fewest plays. They cannot convert third downs. I suspect they have a lot of third and longs because their run game stinks anyway. Houston at Jacksonville. Who are the must starts in this game?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Jamie Nico Collins is a must start. Brian Thomas Jr. Is still a must start. Travis CTN is a mustard.

[Adam]

But I gotta ask you here because unless you haven't updated them, seems I think you have Brian Thomas Jr. 24th.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

You're still starting Brian Thomas Jr.

[Adam]

Okay. Heath, who are the must starts in this game? Any disagreement?

[Heath Cummings]

No disagreement.

[Adam]

I want to say something. I've been debating whether or not I should say it.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Say it. You sure included it, so say it. I know what you're gonna say.

[Adam]

What am I gonna say?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Basil Tootin's better than Travis Ctan.

[Adam]

Well.

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, you already said that on Twitter.

[Adam]

I am blown away by how good he has looked and I think he could be. Someone said, you know, that Travis Etienne is Rashad White and Basil Tootin is Bucky Irving from last year. And I, you know, I don't.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Everybody was saying all off season.

[Adam]

Right. But now it looks like it and I just think get it doesn't look like it yet. No.

[Heath Cummings]

Because Rashad White was running terribly and Travis ETN has been one of the most pleasant sur of the start of the season.

[Adam]

Yeah. But last week wasn't a Great week for ETN. It was basically one run and a jet sweep for nine yards and a 30 yard run to the outside. He's. He was terrible in between the tackles anyway. I just think that, that I would just call them Putin. That Basil Tutin is someone that you should try to buy. Now I don't know that he's going to take over, but I think. I think his value might be at his lowest.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

So just right now he also banged up his shoulder in the game. He's on the injury report with a shoulder injuries. Just something to keep an eye on there. This is. This look, it's an interesting week for the Jaguars running backs because the Texans couldn't stop the Bucks last week. Yeah, just running backs in general. I mean 10 for 65 for Rashad White. You know him averaging six and a half yards per carry is not the norm, especially with the offensive line being banged up a little bit and Irving was just making plays all over the field. So the Jaguars can certainly do something similar.

[Adam]

Also you know, the other reason why I, I'm saying this is because Pete on the draftathon Pete Priscoe said he felt that Tutin would be their starting running back because even when they had Tank Bigsby if he was better in pass protection. So obviously they, they like Basil Tutin quite a bit. Anyway, I just was really blown away by how good he was last week and I think he's got an opportunity to really to, to really help your fantasy team. All right, so if Christian Kirk plays, would you consider him like, we don't like Jameson Williams. We don't love the Browns wide receivers. Would you throw Christian?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

No.

[Adam]

All right. We got to see it. Starter said Trevor Lawrence or C.J. stroud.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

No.

[Heath Cummings]

No, that's it.

[Adam]

How about Basil Tutin versus Jameson Williams and Jerry Judy and those guys?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would still start the receivers. Yep. But like. Yeah, I mean, you're not wrong. The, the, the, the changing. The, the. We could see that this backfill changing quickly.

[Adam]

No, I mean, I don't want to discount etn. He's obviously had a really good start to the season. And I don't think he was great last week, but I do think he was great against the Panthers. I went back and watched that again and he killed them. And he killed them in between the tackles and he was terrific. So I don't. It's not that you're right. He's like, it's not Rashad White. Rashad White was not running well.

[Heath Cummings]

And Rashad White ran awesome on Monday night.

[Adam]

Shot White started running pretty well. I think even late last year started doing a little bit better, but it just felt like, you know, Bucky was better and I, and I think Tootin might be better. And do you guys remember his touchdown catch last week? That move he made on the linebacker? Oh my gosh. It was nasty.

[Heath Cummings]

But, but again, this is. And I think I'm not even disagreeing with you. It's just this is advice for maybe trying to get him thrown in on a trade.

[Adam]

Yeah, yeah.

[Heath Cummings]

Or trading somebody a low end starter that you don't need. It's not advice that we're going to put the guy into the starting lineup yet.

[Adam]

100. Yeah. But I think he could be an interesting flex. If you have Travion Henderson, if you have Mario and Hampton, like where, where is Tutin for you guys this week? Compared to some of the guys who.

[Heath Cummings]

Have been struggling, he's still behind all those guys.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would take Henderson over him for this week. I would take him over Harvey.

[Adam]

How about Hampton?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would start Hampton.

[Adam]

Okay. Travis Hunter. Any interest?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

No. Okay.

[Heath Cummings]

I don't want to. I. I think I have to in a couple leagues. He's wide receiver 40ish.

[Adam]

Brian Thomas Jr. At some point in this game is going to run by Derek Stingley Jr. And it's going to be up to Trevor Lawrence to deliver a good ball. And it did not it had. He kept. He beat him a few times and you know, Lawrence didn't really deliver and I think maybe Mac Jones too. They both played in the second game. Sit Brenton Strange I assume and start the Texans dst. They have seven sacks but they are just not giving up a lot of points. All right, Colts are at the Titans already gave the stat of the game. It's about Tony Pollard and finally getting a good opportunity here after facing Denver and the Rams. But you guys have him as a number two running back. Tony Pollard over under 13 PPR fantasy points this week over.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Over 15 under under.

[Adam]

Okay, 15 is, as Jamie said, basically what Jordan Mason averaged. If you're talking about just these two running backs, well, I don't know. I'm comparing him to Mason because I think they both have great opportunities in good matchups. That's what Mason averaged last year with the 49ers in his six games as a featured back. All right, Daniel Jones. Why are you so low on Daniel Jones Heath? Jamie has him 10th, Dave has him 12th, you have him 22nd. He is number one in football in yards per attempt.

[Heath Cummings]

Isn't it fun to be back here again? Like it was probably six, seven years ago that you got to say why are you so low on Daniel Jones Heath? And now you get to say it again. I just and this isn't the case with all guys, but I'm a little slower at the beginning of the year with guys who have been terrible for seven years to react to their first two games and the first two like there's a. There's a couple things different in this game. The first two games were indoors. Now they go outside. They're on the road for the first time. The Titans have been pretty good against quarterbacks. The Titans may not be able to score any points, so it may be a lower pass volume game. A decent portion of Jones fantasy production is the fasted fact that he has three touchdowns from the one yard line rushing already. I don't know how sustainable that is, but mostly it's just the entire history of Daniel Jones.

[Adam]

Did you know that Daniel Jones scored 22.3 or more fantasy points in three of his first five games last year.

[Heath Cummings]

I did not.

[Adam]

Yeah.

[Heath Cummings]

Did you know. Did you know that Derek Carr was QB2 and led the NFL at 11.5 yards per pass attempt through Week 2 last year?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah, both home games. Right.

[Heath Cummings]

And they were three point favorites over the Eagles in week three.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Wow.

[Adam]

Then they all got hurt. All right, Jamie, why are you high on Daniel Jones 10th overall this week ahead of Jared Goff? Ahead of who else? You have Daniel Jones ahead of Drake May just one spot. Jordan Love, Kyler Murray, Aaron Rodgers, etc.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I like what I've seen. You know, I mean he's, he's really doing a great job running this offense. And yes, as Heath pointed to, you know, you take away the one yard plunge last week and it's a different fantasy day for him. But the fact that he did that against Denver, you know, is, is something I think you got to take a little bit of a note of. Yes, the Titans defense has, has played well. I think Matthew Stafford exposed them a little bit and nobody's going to ever think that Daniel Jones is Matthew Stafford or this receiving core is as good as what the Rams have. But I think this is a game where Daniel Jones use legs a little bit more. And just looking at what the quarterback situation is for the week again with all the guys that are missing, for a guy that's gotten off to the start, I think it's worth buying into. So can he turn into a pumpkin? Obviously that's been the nature of his career and. And you mentioned Adam got off to a great start last year and then started to get banged up a little bit. But with the way that he's playing in this offense, maybe it was just getting the opportunity to be coached at a higher level and he's responding and responding well.

[Heath Cummings]

I love the table shot there.

[Adam]

Well, I think actually look, the first year he played with Dable he had not just able.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

It's the entire coaching staff he's had in his history with Giants.

[Adam]

No, but I think the first year with Dable he was pretty good. Right? They went to the playoffs, they won a playoff game. Thomas, I forget who they beat if you maybe just tell me in the chat, but they, but they seem to be tricking people. That year they were running a lot of misdirection and just throwing to open guys and Dable was scheming guys open. And so far this year that's kind of what the Colts are doing. I mean, you know, Jonathan Taylor was wide open on his touchdown. He's shaking. I'm sorry, it just feels. No, it Just feels like he's running. As Jamie said, he's running the offense very well. And I give Steichen a lot of credit for what he's designing.

[Heath Cummings]

The first year that Dable was in New York, he was pretty good because Dable had him. He ran for 708 yards and had 120 rush attempts in 16 games. And they didn't have him throw hardly at all as a passer. The first year he was with Brian dable, he averaged 6.8 yards per pass attempt and threw 15 touchdowns in 16 games.

[Adam]

Okay, but he didn't throw a lot. That's it. He stopped doing interceptions.

[Heath Cummings]

The key to Daniel Jones being good with Brian Dable was don't let him throw.

[Adam]

But he also stopped throwing interceptions a year. But no, I'm. But he did. The Giants offense was surprising people and it was, it's. Then it stopped because teams adjusted. Right now, I think that's. I think the Colts are creating a lot of open opportunities.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, I, I said it on Twitter earlier this week. Like, I. I've gotten to the point to where I think he's a starter in super flex leagues. If he's good against the Titans, then I'll get him into that borderline top 12 range. If he' next week at the Rams, it was good as that defense has been against quarterbacks, then I'll just. All my objections will go away, but I'm not buying it over two home games.

[Adam]

I don't want to make it sound like I am either. I just, I think it's.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

No.

[Heath Cummings]

You've been the Daniel Jones defender for seven years.

[Adam]

Well, I think it's the offense. I think it's. He's running this Colts offense very well, as Jamie said.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, he is.

[Adam]

Start Jonathan Taylor. Any interest in Pittman or Downs this week?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would go back to Pittman as a number three receiver. So I like him better than Jalen Waddle. I like him better than the Browns receivers. Trying to think anybody else we spoke about, he's in that mid tier, mid tier, number three receiver range.

[Heath Cummings]

I've got Pittman as a number four. I, I just don't feel a lot of confidence about whether it's Pitman or Downs on a weekly basis. And I don't think that there's gonna be very often. They're both good.

[Adam]

All right.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Pitman, in his last two games at Tennessee, scored a touchdown in both those games. You know, again, it was one game against a crappy secondary, one game against the best secondary in football. Right.

[Adam]

And he did see A lot of certain last week. And there was actually a play in this game where he wasn't lined up on certain, where he just ran a crossing route over the middle kind of underneath. And it. It would have been. I really think it would have been a touchdown if he had caught it. It was a little bit low for Pittman. He dropped. It might have been the bad throw, but it was. It was a makeable play and probably a touchdown. And if he scores a touchdown in that game after a touchdown in week one, his start percentage probably goes up 20%. That's just how people work. But you see the stat line. 4 catches for 40 yards on 5 targets. Also legerious need, by the way, you know, I love him. He shadowed Devonte Adams pretty much the entire game last week, and he did pretty well in the first half. And then Adams destroyed him in the second half.

[Heath Cummings]

Destroyed him. Pittman's not Devontams.

[Adam]

No, he's not. But he might get shadowed by Sneed. I'd be interested to see that. Start Tyler Warren.

[Heath Cummings]

And Sneed didn't practice yesterday, right?

[Adam]

Oh, I'm not sure. I know he's been. I'm not surprised if he didn't because I know he's been dealing with stuff. Start Tyler Warren. And for the Titans sit Cam Ward. Tony Pollard. We've already talked about him enough. What do you think about Ridley and Ridley and Eric IO Manor Ellicott.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

So funny how you're like, always want to make sure everybody's names right, and you, like, you won't call him Tet, but you'll call him Eric.

[Adam]

But then I always correct it. I just like the hitting the button.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I know Ridley's in the mix of the same guys. Like, I'm not fully buying in yet. I need to see a little bit more. The. The rapport between him and Cam Ward has not been great. Grant has been some tough matchups, but.

[Adam]

Would you say it's been raised poor?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yes.

[Adam]

Thank you.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

So he's a. He's at best the number three receiver. I start him over Jameson Williams. I'd rather start Pittman.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, I've got it right now. Ridley. Pittman Downs.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Elliot. Okay, I am enter somebody you definitely want your bench.

[Adam]

Any questions for this game, folks? Would you start Basil Tutor Calvin Ridley.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Really?

[Adam]

Okay. Got a question. Tootin or Pollard?

[Heath Cummings]

That's got to be Pollard.

[Adam]

Does Jonathan Taylor go for a hundred yards?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Probably.

[Heath Cummings]

Maybe go for 200.

[Adam]

Adam is in too good of a mood this morning. Is there such a thing Daniel Jones or Dak Prescott? Daniel Jones or Caleb Williams?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Caleb.

[Adam]

Caleb is Tyler Warren to start even though there's an injury. Yeah, obviously we'll keep an eye on that, but right now we're starting them. Daniel Jones or Drake? May.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I will make that switch. I'll go May over Jones.

[Adam]

May. Yeah. Mace got a nice matchup too. Assuming the Steelers are as injured as they look to be. Pollard or Henderson or Hampton?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Pollard.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah.

[Adam]

Adam woke up and played the song Walking on Sunshine as he danced around the kitchen. No, I wasn't a good. You know what, Johnny Airport. I am in a good mood. I got a lot of work done yesterday. Usually I'm playing catch up. I was. I didn't have anything to do this morning. Like it was a good morning. You're right. I guess I'm exuding that. All right, jets are at Tampa Bay. Potentially useless stat of the game. Number one in 2024 Tampa Bay. So here's the pretext is the Bucks have had a great run defense since the second half of last year. And early on this year we're giving up 2.2 yards per carry to running backs.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

They just annually when Vita Ve is healthy.

[Adam]

Basically yeah. They face Bijan Robinson and Nick Chubb. But you're going well. Kalija can see is out for the season. Does that matter? Well, here's why it's a potentially useless stat. Last year they played four games with Vea and without can see and they the Bucks run defense was great against Brian Robinson Jr. And David Montgomery and horrible against Jameer Gibbs, Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson. So there's nothing to do with that potentially useless stat of the game. Number two to Rod Taylor has a career 1.6% interception rate that is better than Patrick Mahomes. So maybe not so fast if you want to start the Bucks dst. I don't know. But anyway, this is a fun game. Like how do we feel there's some some interesting calls here. Taylor Evans. I mean not Taylor Hall. Evans. Abuka Wilson. I think a lot of people are going to have questions about all of these guys. Heath, how much do you like those four players?

[Heath Cummings]

Breeze hall is a top 12 running back. I'm starting him and. And not really even thinking twice about it. Same thing for Mike Evans. I like Wilson over a Buka but they're both number two wide receivers.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

And.

[Adam]

I could make a strong case against that. Just say it's. It's bad matchups. I mean Bijan Robinson averaged 2 yards per carry. Nick Chubb had that late touchdown against the Bucks Because I think they may have been letting him score, but I'm not sure about that. I haven't seen any confirmation. And then Evans is gonna get shadowed by Sauce Gardner, and so far he's been shadowed by A.J. terrell, and he's been shadowed by Derek Stingley, and he's been bad, so. Take that, Heath.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, like I said, I. I'm just. It's two weeks, and I don't know that I'm ready for the Sauce Gardener shadow to be like. You've even said occasionally those guys, they're gonna have plays where Sauce Gardener's not on him.

[Adam]

Absolutely. Yeah.

[Heath Cummings]

And so. Yeah, I'm not. I don't. I don't know who. You would start over Mike Evans. Like you did. You wanted us to sit Brian Thomas earlier, and a lot of people are.

[Adam]

No, I didn't.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, you did.

[Adam]

I did not.

[Heath Cummings]

Like, we could put Jacoby Myers over Mike Evans if you would like.

[Adam]

Well, I. They. He's been better.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, that's.

[Adam]

I think there's a good case for it this week. Jb, how about you? Evans or Jacoby?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would start Jacoby. I'd start Day Flowers over him. I would start Debo Samuel over him.

[Adam]

Okay. You. You're lower on Evans. You have him, like, 24th. You kind of have him. You kind of feel the same way about Evans as you do about Brian Thomas Jr. It seems.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I mean, look, he. He's had tough matchups, and there's another guy stepping up and. What was the case last year?

[Adam]

Yes, it was. It's similar. Yeah, because he had tough matchups in those first six games with God when he did Denver and New Orleans. New Orleans, always tough matchup for him. He was bad, and I think Godwin was good. Would you start a buko over him? Over Mike Evans?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would.

[Adam]

Heath?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

No.

[Adam]

Would you start Garrett Wilson over Mike Evans?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

No.

[Heath Cummings]

No, I would not.

[Adam]

Jets quarterbacks have thrown 22 passes in both games, but Garrett Wilson is a start. He's 25th for Jamie, I think, and he's 16th for Heath. And Dave's right in the middle, so. Yeah, actually, give the Bucks credit. They've done well against Drake. London, 15 targets, 55 yards, and they did well enough against Nico Collins. He almost had two touchdowns. So it seems like we have. We have maybe good starts in this game, but not great according to Jamie. And we do have. And Heath is higher on Breeze hall and Mike Evans, specifically. Jamie, why are you not as high? I think you have Breeze Hall, 24th.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

This run defense is great. And we have a two game sample size of what this offense could look like. The highs and the lows. Now the Week 2 game against Buffalo I don't think is the true indication of what they're gonna look like and I don't think week one is a true indication. That's what, that's kind of a prove a game for Bruce Hall. Not that anybody's getting away from him. I mean I, the, the one league where I have Breeze hall, you know, I made a trade to acquire Malik Neighbors with the hope that Breeze hall can still be a very serviceable starting option for me. And I hope that's case. I mean, you know, I have my concerns about this offense and him coming into the season. So what happened last week was the, the lows of the lows. But I, I'll go back to this and maybe the, the game flow and, and what his role is changes, but I was concerned about him in the passing game and we have two catches so far on seven targets. Four cats on seven targets to each game. So no touchdowns, no receptions. Like that's the definition of a trap back. And he was fantastic in week one because he did a lot of, I mean he was hit behind the line of scrimmage so many times against the Steelers and was able to escape that. And then they get blown out by Buffalo. That's not happening this week. I don't, I don't think so.

[Adam]

But yeah, we haven't really talked about it. I mean do you think that to Rod Taylor changes anything? For better or worse for Hall?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I think better.

[Heath Cummings]

I think there'll be more rush attempts for him at least.

[Adam]

For hall, you mean?

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah.

[Adam]

Okay. And to Rod Taylor does have a pretty solid history of throwing to his running backs. Just most recently he made four starts with the Giants in 2023 and Saquon Barkley had four, six, five and two targets. But there are more examples than that. Torot Taylor, by the way, I mean he's, he hasn't been that bad. You know, he's doesn't have the upside of Justin Fields, but he might get you, might get you 20 points if you're in a pinch. Okay, I do have some questions in the chat. We'll get to those in a minute. Would you start? How do we feel about a buko? Where do you guys have a buka ranked?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I mean it's hard not to consider a must start receiver at this point. Like everything that Baker does well, works well for him. He finds the end zone.

[Adam]

Yeah. Touchdown rate.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, I think he's 24 for me. And I'm trying to not doubt the like the Baker touchdown rate is going to regress at some point, but it obviously hasn't at the start of this year. But it has been a very. Like Jamie's right, it has been a very Baker success because he's got eight catches for 96 yards in two games. Like that's not anywhere close to a must start wide receiver.

[Adam]

Right?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

It's almost. I, I don't, I don't know exactly, but it's basically what Jalen McMillan was doing last year.

[Heath Cummings]

It's what, what it is is what Mike Evans has done a lot of times the targets aren't that high, the catches aren't that high, but he scores a touchdown every week so it doesn't matter. And now Mike Evans not scoring any touchdowns and Ibuka scoring them all.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

And, and again, if you're looking at it, this is what the pros and cons are of Mike Evans. The pros are he's drawing the toughest cover. The cons are he's drawing the toughest cover. It's opening up a booka for key opportunities. And if you go back to week one for the Steelers, well, what happened in that game, DK Metcalf was essentially negated and Calvin Austin has a big game, scores a touchdown. Scarana scores a touchdown. Aaron Rodgers those for 4 and DK's numbers are decent. Like I could see Mike Evans 4 for 83.

[Adam]

One thing we haven't seen yet is Baker Mayfield throw a short touchdown pass. His shortest touchdown pass this week this year is nine yards. Other than that it's 15, 20, 25 and 30.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

So he's like what, six foot one? I mean that's not tall.

[Adam]

I also think Mike Evans watch.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, go ahead, watch the Abuka injury. Yeah, because he didn't do hardly anything at all late in that game and he didn't practice on Wednesday. And let's make sure he's 100 before we run him out there.

[Adam]

All right. And then Mike Evans, I was just gonna say he had five or six touchdown catches last year from the one or two yard line. They love to throw fades. They haven't really had those opportunities this year. Start Bucky Irving, Rashad White or Basil Tutin.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Toon.

[Heath Cummings]

I have White one spot buying too.

[Adam]

All right, here are some questions from the chat Breeze hall or James Connor?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Connor.

[Adam]

Oh, Breece Hall, Jalen Warren, Ken Walker. Sit one.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Huh.

[Heath Cummings]

It depends on Charbonnet's status but right now it would be Walker if Walker if Charbonnet's out. It'd be worn.

[Adam]

AJ Brown or Garrett Wilson?

[Heath Cummings]

Brown.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Wilson.

[Adam]

Mike Evans, Calvin Ridley, Keon Coleman. Evans. Right.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Evans. Yep.

[Adam]

Devonte Adams or Evans Adams. I've got Evans, Breece hall or Deandre Swift.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Swift.

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, I have them back to back. And I have Hole Evans or Met. Wow.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Your guy.

[Adam]

I know. Wow.

[Heath Cummings]

Oh, they're both top 12.

[Adam]

Evans or Metcalf?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Evans.

[Heath Cummings]

Evans.

[Adam]

The buka for Hall. I don't know if this is a trade. A buka for Hall.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would rather have hall right now.

[Heath Cummings]

Yep.

[Adam]

Bruce hall or Bill?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'll take Bill this week.

[Adam]

All right, let's take a break. And that's actually a good one.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Who has more receptions this week, Breeze hall or Bill? I would hope it's Hall.

[Adam]

Oh, no.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Eckler. We may have. We may have a new role for him.

[Adam]

Yeah. All right, we'll see. Let's take a break. Giants 2 1/2 silver.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Under who? Who hits it?

[Adam]

Wait, what'd you say?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

What's the two and a half receptions? Is the over under who?

[Adam]

Definitely Breeze Hall.

[Heath Cummings]

Over for Hole, under for Jesse.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I mean, he hasn't been over yet.

[Adam]

He hasn't. But they've only thrown 44 passes in two games. All right, we'll take a break, come back and talk Giants, Chiefs, obviously. Be right back.

[Heath Cummings]

What's up, everyone? It's Siya Najad from Fantasy Football Today dfs, a weekly NFL daily fantasy show that's a part of the CBS Sports Podcast network. If you're looking for NFL game by game previews, which players stock is up or down, and DFS strategies and advice, Mike McClure, Meg Shoup and I have you covered every single week. Download and follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere podcasts are found. Make sure to turn on those notifications so you don't miss a single pick all season long. Good luck. What's up, everyone? It's the counselor of Cash C and Ajad from the Early Edge, a daily sports betting show powered by Sportsline and part of the CBS Sports Podcast Network. If you're looking for the best bets, picks and analysis for the day in sports, we're your one stop shop. We're locked in every day with NFL bets and player props, college football, football picks and so much more. Download and follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere podcasts are found. Subscribe to the SportsLine YouTube page to watch us live at 10am Eastern Time every weekday. Make sure to turn on those notifications so you don't miss A single pick all season long.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Good luck.

[Adam]

Stat of the game for Chiefs at Giants. Chiefs are going to win. But also, Patrick Mahomes is averaging eight and a half air yards per pass attempt. That is up 2 yards from the previous two seasons. He's still throwing a lot of short passes, but he's also mixing in much many more deep balls. Deep ball percentage is way up from Mahomes, and this is really encouraging. I mean, he's getting a lot of points on those deep balls. So I was a little surprised at how high you guys had Patrick Mahomes. You had him top six. Dave has him third. Heath, you want to explain? I guess my thought was like, yeah, it's kind of. Kind of be an easy win, but what do you think?

[Heath Cummings]

I just don't know if they can run the ball and I don't know if they can win easily.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

They're.

[Heath Cummings]

They're not very good right now. So he has to play Superman and he's doing that by just running all over the place. He's running more often than he ever has and he's running more efficiently than he ever has. And I don't think the Giants defense is very good. And he might get Xavier worthy back.

[Adam]

And that is exciting news if he gets Xavier worthy back. So Pacheco is around RB30 for you guys. We still don't want to start him, but the Giants are giving up the most fantasy points to running backs. 5.7 yards per carry to running backs. The fifth most yards before contact per carry to running backs. It's just. It's about as good as a matchup can get for Pacheco.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

He's gonna go for 75 and a touchdown.

[Heath Cummings]

I think the real question is like, is it him or is it Cream Hunt? I think one of them will have a good fantasy day, but I think Hunt's more likely to score if they're inside the five.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

So how do you. Where did he go to college?

[Adam]

Oh, he went to Rutgers.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Oh, here we go back to Jersey. This is the Pacheco game.

[Heath Cummings]

He's gonna be on my bench for his good game.

[Adam]

So how do you.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

But again, everything he said, right, there's no reason to trust Isaiah Pacheco. There's the unknown about who gets the touchdown. There's maybe a role change. Dave talked about this earlier. Do they start to give Rashard Smith more touches just because he might have more explosiveness? I just think we've seen two games against two fantastic defenses. They've been trailing in both of those games. They haven't had an opportunity to run the ball. And now you're looking at this Giants defense. 8.2 yards per carry allowed to Jacori, Crosby, Merritt. What was it, 19 for 90 for Javante Williams. Like those guys are probably better running backs in Pacheco this point, but this is the opportunity that, that he needs. Now I will say this. He has a good game, you sell him immediately, right?

[Adam]

All right. Chiefs wide receivers. And no, you don't sell them to me. I'm not gonna be buying Adam.

[Heath Cummings]

We were telling you to sell them. None of us have him. You haven't won.

[Adam]

Xavier Worthy, is he a must start? If he plays.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I would say he's a high end number three receiver. So I would start him over Ridley, I start him over Jameson Williams, I start him over Pittman. You know, so three guys we talked about starting over with both Browns receivers.

[Heath Cummings]

I put him one spot ahead of Wandale and Wondale I think is at 30 for me. So everything that I see suggests that the risk for re injury is pretty significant for this injury. And so we'll see what they have him do.

[Adam]

All right. But the Giants really stink. I mean, oh, they're terrible. Like just last week, Lamb 112 yards, picking 68 yards in a touchdown. Kevante Turpin 47 yards and a touchdown. Terry McLaurin should have had a 72 yard touchdown, but Jaden Daniels overthrew him. Debo Samuel had a huge game. They just stink if he doesn't play. Where would Marquis Brown be for you if Worthy doesn't play.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

In that 30 to 36 range, where he is now.

[Heath Cummings]

Probably pretty close to where Worthy is.

[Adam]

All right, let's talk about the Giants here and start us at Russell Wilson. Oh, oh, sorry, sorry. Kelsey is top nine. You're gonna start him.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

He was added in several leagues and he's certainly one of our most viewed players. Don't start Taekwond Thornton yet. If you want to roster him, I get it. Like to see what happens. But if Worthy plays, definitely no. If Worthy's out, boom, bust. Number four receiver.

[Heath Cummings]

I, I think I'm the high guy on Russell Wilson, which was surprising. Like I said, it's. This is nostalgia week with the Daniel Jones and the Russell Wilson stuff. He's not a starter in the top 12 since, but I think he is like top 15 for me. And if you're in a desperate situation and I got you need to start him, I don't think you should feel terrible about it.

[Adam]

Which Giants running back do you prefer? If they both play.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Scatter.

[Heath Cummings]

Scatter Boo. And nine and a half. I think I still take Tracy in full.

[Adam]

Who's the best running back in this game?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'll take the checkup.

[Heath Cummings]

It depends on if Tracy plays. If Tracy's out. Scatter Boo.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Oh, I agree with that.

[Adam]

Tracy was limited, so I assume he's going to play okay. Malik. Well, usually most guys who are limited on Wednesday end up playing.

[Heath Cummings]

I just said okay.

[Adam]

Yeah. Malik Neighbors, start Wanda Robinson. He's a number three or number four guy. Are we expecting more like the 11.5 fantasy points he scored in week one?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I mean, I. I go into every week with him with. That's the floor. And so, you know, what. What version do we see?

[Adam]

And.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Typically, not that you're going to shut down Malik Neighbors, but I. I mean, they're going to do a good job on trying to take him out of the game. And there should be opportunities for Russell Wilson to lean on Wanda. But don't overvalue him based on last week because that most likely was fluky.

[Heath Cummings]

I. Well, yeah, I think last week was fluky. I think. And I don't know. I didn't see what the A dot was after week one, but I think the really encouraging thing so far is that the ADOT has exploded and the catch rate and the target rate have stuck around. Usually if you start getting targeted further down the field, you don't catch 75 of your targets, which Wondale's still doing so far.

[Adam]

Yeah, but it was. The ADOT was three yards in week one and 16 yards in week two. So it's just one game. He had the highest eight out of.

[Heath Cummings]

His career, which is a great reminder of exactly how big of a sample two weeks is for any of these stats we're talking about.

[Adam]

You know, I have to choose between two of three. Wandale Robinson, Jerry Judy, and Keon Coleman. And what I can tell you right now is Wandale's definitely going to be in my lineup.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, for sure.

[Adam]

It's great options. Okay, so I guess I could put Pacheco in there, but nope, he's gonna be on the bench. All right. I. I don't. I hope not. Well, I hope so. Chiefs DST is a start. Denver at the Chargers. We have two games left, guys. Let's see if we can knock these out in five minutes here. Let me see. Chat questions. Scatter Boo, Tracy or Tyler. Algeria. Half ppr. Any other chat questions for this game? Worthy if he plays. Or Matthew Golden, Kelsey or Jake Ferguson? Ppr.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Ferguson.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah.

[Adam]

All right. Let's move on. Denver's at the Chargers going back to Sutton this week.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yes.

[Adam]

Yeah. Any hesitation starting Justin Herbert in this matchup?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

No. No. He's playing too well.

[Adam]

Yeah. We did the Risers yesterday at the beginning of the show. I think Herbert definitely could have been one of those guys.

[Heath Cummings]

You just give up more than 20 fancy wins. Did Daniel Jones.

[Adam]

They did. He also had a good game against them late once last year.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Week 16 last year.

[Adam]

16. 26.2 fantasy points and he's running again. He's run for 31 yards per game.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

He's the leading rusher.

[Adam]

But Justin Herbert also right now. Career high in yards per attempt, by far. Career high in rushing yards per game, by far. Career high in passer rating per game overall, by far. But start Justin Herbert. He's seventh for Jamie and he's third for Heath. Wow. Herbert or Mahomes?

[Heath Cummings]

Herbert.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'll take my homes.

[Adam]

Okay. Are we starting a running back in this game?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Dobbins is my favorite.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah, but I don't want to. None of them are top 24.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Flex.

[Adam]

Okay. Dobbins or Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Allen, Dobbins Johnston.

[Heath Cummings]

Hey, I'd agree with that.

[Adam]

Fair enough. And half ppr. Same order. Alan, Dobbins Johnston.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yes. Non ppr. Dobbins first. And yes, Brandon. I have been telling dad jokes my whole life.

[Adam]

Bo Nicks or Dak Prescott?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Dak Prescott.

[Heath Cummings]

Yep.

[Adam]

Bo Nicks or Justin Herbert?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Justin Herbert.

[Adam]

Bo Nicks or Caleb Williams?

[Heath Cummings]

Caleb.

[Adam]

Caleb Phonyx or Kyler Murray?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

So you have Caleb in your top three?

[Adam]

No, he is Herbert third, not Bo.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

You said Caleb.

[Heath Cummings]

No, he said. He's saying Bo Nicks or not Justin Herbert or. I've got Nick's one spot ahead. Harbor or of Kyler.

[Adam]

Wait, the confusion is Jamie.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I thought I heard you say Caleb over Herbert.

[Adam]

Oh, no. Bo Nicks or Caleb.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Oh, I'm sorry. Caleb over Bonix for me as well.

[Heath Cummings]

Yes.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Sorry. Okay.

[Adam]

Bo Nix is top 12. There are some guys you can start ahead of him, but he's top 12. Even though the Chargers have been really, really good defensively. But Mahomes scored 27 points to get them. He did have six for 57 and a touchdown rushing.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

And they'll kill him.

[Adam]

Yeah, I mean, look, it's not nothing, but he played 16% of the snaps last week and their pressure rate was basically exactly the same as it was in week one. But it is obviously an important piece.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I mean, much better offensive line that they're facing.

[Adam]

How do we feel about Troy Franklin?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I Think he's a great stash candidate. If you're desperate for a third receiver, he's certainly in the mix, but not somebody that I'd want to start just yet.

[Heath Cummings]

Kind of like Facial Tootin. I want him on my bench.

[Adam]

Troy Franklin or Quentin Johnston?

[Heath Cummings]

Johnson.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Johnson.

[Adam]

Starter. Sit Omari and Hampton.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

No, send him if you can.

[Adam]

Dobbins or Hampton?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Dobbins.

[Heath Cummings]

I literally have them projected for the same number of fantasy points. But I would start Dobbins.

[Adam]

Hampton or Trey Benson? Ppr.

[Heath Cummings]

Hampton.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Hampton.

[Adam]

Hampton or Quentin Johnston?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Johnson.

[Heath Cummings]

I've got Hampton.

[Adam]

Some questions from the chat. Bonix or Jared Goff?

[Heath Cummings]

Nick's.

[Adam]

Nick Sutton or Teterell? McMillan.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

McMillan.

[Heath Cummings]

Yeah.

[Adam]

Franklin or Hampton?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Hampton.

[Adam]

Okay. All right, we're good. Which DST do you prefer, Denver's or the Chargers?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Denver slightly.

[Adam]

Okay. Pittsburgh's at New England. Stat of the game. Pittsburgh has allowed 90 or more yards to three wide receivers in two games. That would be Garrett Wilson, JSN and Cooper Cup. Does anybody want to start a Patriots wide receiver?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

No. No, no.

[Adam]

And both teams are bottom five in yards per attempt allowed. New England actually is the worst. So we've got so far two of the worst past defenses in football. What does that mean for the passing game? Seat New England and Pittsburgh?

[Heath Cummings]

I think DK is probably a guy you're going to start as a number two wide receiver. There's not really anybody else on that team you want to start. There's not really anybody on the Patriots you want to start. So I think it make it means you're starting. Drake May and Aaron Rodgers is in the top 20 for the first time this season for me, and maybe we'll be even better than that. But these teams just don't have the weapons to. I would expect both teams past defenses look a little bit better after this week than they do going into this week.

[Adam]

Yeah. Jamie, you're somewhat bullish on Aaron Rodgers. You have him 14th.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I mean, look at this Patriots defense so far this season. They allowed 362, 372, whatever it was to Geno Smith in week one. And Geno Smith looked absolutely awful last week. They allowed to a tongue of iloa to go for over 300 yards. So they're out. They're allowing, you know, nearly 700 yards passing in the first two weeks of the season. So Rogers in a great matchup in week one, which would turn, I guess, turned out to be a great matchup in week one, goes for four touchdowns. Like this could easily be a 250, 280 and two for him. I don't think he goes over 300. We know he's kind of been allergic to that since leaving Green Bay. But look at the two quarterbacks and how they've performed without playing the Patriots and what they've done with against Patriots.

[Adam]

And they didn't even throw that much. Gino and Tua had 32 to 34 pass attempts and went for 315 or more yards. Also Rogers had like.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

The Steelers are running the ball at a very high level. Right?

[Adam]

Right. Yeah. Rogers had 12.4 fantasy points last week and 6 point per touching touchdown leagues. But he also had an interception in the end zone.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

It was an eight point swing. I'm glad you brought that up.

[Adam]

Yeah, and it wasn't necessarily his fault either. Apparently it was kind of a route issue.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

It was intended for Pat Friarmouth. Calvin Austin deflected it and turns out interception. You know, he was saying all the right things about Austin after the game, screamed at him during the game. You know, typical Rogers. Yeah, I know. But yeah, that's an eight point swing. And I wonder what the the perception of Rogers is if he has the 244 and four in week one and a 20 plus point game in week two and then you're facing this defense like there's a lot that could be favorable for him this week.

[Adam]

You guys like Jalen Warren, he's right around 20th in the rankings for everybody. So you can start Jalen Warren, DK Metcalf, bounce back.

[Heath Cummings]

Low end number two.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I mean if Gonzalez plays, it's not as encouraging but yes, lower number two is fair.

[Adam]

Okay. Very disappointing game last week against Seattle. Three catches, 20 yards and a touchdown. At least he got you that touchdown. He's been 11 to 12 fantasy points both games so far. And then I'm assuming where to sit the Pittsburgh tight ends.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Yeah, you know, it's. I think John Smith's got 27 yards on the season.

[Adam]

Right.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

He did score a touchdown and it was a design play. Pop past him in the first game, he could score. But I don't want to chase that anymore.

[Adam]

Drake May is top 10, top 11. Drake may or Bo Nicks? That I think I asked you that. Sorry. May or Nicks?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'll take May.

[Heath Cummings]

I've got May now. But they're close enough that keep an eye on it this weekend.

[Adam]

Is there a quarterback who has a really bad matchup that people are going to be sitting May or Golf? You're going to start May, right?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

May, yeah.

[Adam]

Are you starting a Patriots running back.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

No, Ramandre is in that flex range as same as Dobbins.

[Adam]

Would you start Pacheco over them?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

No, don't.

[Adam]

Would you start Stefan Diggs over the Patriots running back?

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I'd start him over Henderson.

[Heath Cummings]

I would not.

[Adam]

I mean, it's really weird. We just don't like any of the Patriots. But Drake May is top 10 or top 11 or whatever.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

There's going to be somebody who comes out of this game. You know, look, Booty scored last week, didn't do very much. Someone will come out of this game with quality production. I mean, you think about week one, right? Booty was, was solid and Henry was okay. And then last week, you know, he's using his legs. He gets the, you know, big plays out of Ramondre Steven, something like that. I think this is going to be this offense until Diggs maybe gets hopefully up to speed and starts to make some, some more plays.

[Adam]

And don't forget, not. It's not just that the Steelers have been bad so far this year. Defensively, they are so beat up. Highsmith is a huge injury for them. Joey Porter Jr. Is a big time injury for them. They, they are really injured. So I mean, maybe, maybe they're not quite as injured as I'm making it out to be. They're not the Bears. But those two injuries are very, very bad ones for them.

[Heath Cummings]

And I'll just say, like Drake May scored 30 fantasy points last week, I think, and he did not have a wide receiver with 40 receiving yards or a tight end.

[Adam]

Yeah, he had such a good game. 19 of 23, 230 yards, two touchdowns and 31 yards rushing. And a rushing touchdown. What a game. Josh Allen, meet the Miami Dolphins tonight. Which DST do you like better? Because I assume we're not starting Hunter Henry.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Neither one.

[Adam]

Okay. All right. Get away from the dsts. Well, that was the longest show we've ever done, but it was good. It was fun. Thank you all for watching and listening. I appreciate all of you. I know it's long shows, but I hope you're liking the info before the bye week. You know, we have eight games on Thursday to talk about.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

It gets to me a lot.

[Adam]

I'm gonna stop rambling and we will talk to you tomorrow on Fantasy Football Today.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

Paramount podcasts.

[Adam]

Song stands about an obsessed fan who's taking me too literal from Eminem and the producers of Never.

[Heath Cummings]

Seen anything like Eminem fans.

[Adam]

This is the story of a fan base.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I had to look in the mirror and be like, am I one of these crazy Stans?

[Adam]

That created a culture. I do have an addiction to Eminem. I travel the world for him. Without Eminem, I wouldn't have the life.

[Jamie Eisenberg]

I have right now.

[Heath Cummings]

What's your first question?

[Adam]

Stans new documentary now streaming on Paramount plus.